If you’ve been in Florence this past week for men’s trade fair Pitti Uomo, you’ve likely spotted the so-called “Pitti peacocks”. Clad in three-piece tailoring, pristine shoes and often a jaunty hat, this group comprises the influencers, brand founders, buyers, and journalists that orbit the menswear market. But more importantly, those who fall into the Gen X and baby boomer generations.
Since marketers learnt they could segment and target specific generations online, brands became obsessed with generational trends. Amid the streetwear boom, which peaked in luxury menswear in the late 2010s and early 2020s, the majority of brands were dead set on winning younger shoppers with influencers, buzzy collabs, celebrity placements, and social media activations. Now, as the aspirational consumer continues to pull back spending and streetwear growth slows, the market would be wise to rethink its focus on younger shoppers.
Generational Breakdown: Understanding the baby boomer consumer
Baby boomers are often overlooked in luxury consumer reports, even though they hold half of the household wealth in the US.
“Older menswear consumers are often overlooked, but they’re one of the most valuable audiences in fashion today,” says Bia Bezamat, cultural insights expert at Kantar. “Like many consumer industries, fashion often optimizes for Gen Z attention, not necessarily for long-term value or loyalty. But Gen Xs and baby boomers already account for more than a quarter of global spending, so there’s a big mismatch between where brands are focusing their attention and where purchasing power actually sits. The older consumer also tends to be more brand loyal, more decisive, and less driven by short-term trend cycles.”
Indeed, older menswear consumers have serious spending power. McKinsey’s 2025 luxury outlook identified affluent consumers over 50, so-called “silver spenders”, as a major growth engine — accounting for 48% of global spending growth. It checks out: Gen X alone drove $15.2 trillion in global spending in 2025, according to the World Economic Forum, making it the highest-spending generation globally. Plus, baby boomers hold half of the current US household wealth, according to the Federal Reserve.
“Their motivation is less about chasing trends and more about curating their closets with a clarity and confidence that eludes many younger consumers,” adds Kantar’s Bezamat. “Much like their female counterparts, they’ve been traditionally neglected by brands to date and really respond when brands respect their intelligence — with clear communication, great product, and seamless retail experiences.”
As their styles mature, Gen X and boomer shoppers have clear formulas that they stick to for getting dressed. “As my taste and aesthetic have changed organically with experience, I find that I prefer to wear a jacket to complete my look, for example, whether it’s a softly tailored sport style or an unconstructed suit jacket,” says Bruce Pask, associate VP of the men’s fashion office for Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
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“I always like to have a classic piece, or something sort of mundane, with something really odd. I think if it’s all odd, it doesn’t work; if it’s too mundane, then it’s not interesting,” Wooster says. “A Brooks Brothers Navy Blazer can make a pair of Comme des Garçon shorts super interesting.”
The mature men’s shopper is a “fundamental pillar” of Harrods’s menswear business, says Simon Longland, the retailer’s fashion buying director. “[This customer] shops with intent rather than impulse — building a closet over time with clarity and consistency,” he says, adding that they often value Italian tailoring, refined outerwear, and elevated essentials. “Brands such as Loro Piana and Zegna resonate because they align with this appreciation for craftsmanship and longevity.”
Mature menswear consumers are also the most prominent demographic when it comes to bespoke. “Besides the items traditionally associated with a men’s luxury shopper — watches, cars, art, technology — they buy custom: whether it’s clothing, shoes, or leather accessories,” says Woo. “The combination of quality, personal experience, and expertise that creates perfectly fitted garments represents another level of luxury.”
Eschewing trends
While social media marketing is key to resonating with the generations that help to shape culture and trends, older men’s consumers are not so driven by trend cycles or buzz, experts agree.
Young-Su Kim, men’s, jewelry, home, and beauty director for Bergdorf Goodman, has felt his approach to fashion change as he’s gotten older. “Compared to 20 years ago, my approach feels more measured. I was much more influenced by trend cycles and celebrity culture — there was a constant emphasis on what felt ‘hot’ or a ‘must-have’,” he says. “My love for product and style as a form of self-expression hasn’t changed, but my relationship with fashion feels much more intentional now. I’m less interested in chasing the moment, and more drawn to pieces that feel personal and lasting.”
For older men, fashion used to be about status or position, Kurino adds, but recently, the emphasis is more on the people and the storytelling behind the brands. “Iconic products that are easy to recognize have lost their charm. Customers are looking for quality over brands or icons,” he says. In the second decade of the 21st century, fashion was inspired by streetwear, and it even influenced older consumers. But that phenomenon has ended, Kurino says. “There was also an old-school identity, which related to old masculinity. But now, the male image is changing. Our men’s shoppers in United Arrows prefer simple but unique pieces with good quality. For example, brands like Auralee, Setchu, The Row, Lemaire, or Caruso.”
This spirit of discovery and the adoption of brands beyond heritage players is partly down to how older generations today are aging differently. “Where there used to be brands that felt mature for mature shoppers, aging today is less about limitation and more about experience, maturity, and discernment,” Bezamat says. “In fashion, we’re seeing older men setting a benchmark for what enduring style looks like. Brands like Saint Laurent, Zegna, and Kith have featured older cultural figures like Christopher Walken and Mads Mikkelsen in their campaigns, bringing a sense of authenticity and authority to their products.”
Favoring real-life retail
When it comes to retail, older male shoppers — many of whom are time and cash rich compared to their Gen Z counterparts — are more likely to purchase luxury in-store, even if they’re encountering social media and omnichannel touchpoints before they buy.
In the UK, Gen X and boomer men tend to make more out-of-home shopping trips than any other generation, says GWI’s Beer. They’re also one of the few demographics where this behavior has remained stable over time.
“I haven’t polled everyone my age, but generally, I think people like me really like the act of shopping,” Wooster says. “Believe me, I have spent tons of money online with Mr Porter, Farfetch, and Mytheresa — they provide incredible service. But at the same time, nothing beats trying it on, touching it, feeling it, and not having to go through the hassle of figuring out what to do with it if it doesn’t suit you.” Today, Wooster estimates that 90% of his luxury purchases are made in-store, mainly when traveling to New York, Japan, or Europe.
When in-store, the mature customer shops with conviction across categories, Harrods’s Longland says. “I wouldn’t characterize this customer as slowing down,” he says. “On the contrary, he is highly efficient and assured in how he shops. He often engages across multiple categories in a single visit — menswear, watches, fragrance — driven by clarity of choice rather than time pressure. It’s not about urgency, but precision.” While inherently loyal, the Harrods mature menswear customer also remains open to discovery, he adds, particularly when guided by trusted store advisors.
The human element of the store experience is central to building trust with the older consumer, says Giuseppe Santoni, CEO of luxury label Santoni, which counts Gen X and boomer men as its largest consumer group. “In this context, the boutique is not simply a point of sale, but a place of relationship. The experience becomes structured around continuity: a familiar setting, a known advisor, and a service that evolves with the client over time,” he explains. “The customer returns not just for the product, but for the reassurance of being recognized and understood.” Santoni offers private events, one-to-one appointments, in-store rituals, and tailored services to build loyalty with mature customers, as well as restoration and repair services, to stay connected to the client post-purchase.
At menswear tailoring label Saman Amel, which prides itself on its clienteling experience, Gen X and baby boomers make up 35% of consumers. “It’s not about showing older customers the latest hottest thing, but the new thing that makes sense in the context of what they already have,” says co-founder Dag Granath. “I think honesty is really critical and highly valued, and is part of the personal relationship that I feel is highly valued not only with a slightly older customer, but across the board.”
Social media shifts
For all their shopping similarities, there are still some notable differences between Gen X and boomer men. “Gen X customers tend to be more digitally engaged and comfortable shopping across online channels, while baby boomers often place greater value on personal service and in-store experiences,” says Luca Faloni, whose premium menswear label, presented at Pitti, counts Gen X and baby boomers as a third of its business. “We tailor our marketing and communication to the channels preferred by each audience.”
Instagram content
According to GWI data, Gen X shoppers are more research-led in the purchase journey. “Compared with other generations, they’re more likely to discover brands through review sites and product comparison services, suggesting they prefer to weigh up options before they buy,” says Beer. “They’re also in an interesting middle-ground, where they’re tech-confident but not app-native. This makes them distinctive in how they discover brands online, with brand browser websites and online display ads more prominent.”
While they’re less research-driven, technology adoption among boomer men is growing, and brands should consider that younger generations are not the only ones encountering their social media moves. “It can’t be overstated that the foundational shift in older menswear consumers is technology,” Beer says. In the US and the UK this year, consumers aged 65+ have “crossed a mobile tipping point”, with a higher share now saying their mobile is their most important device, ahead of their PC or laptop, according to GWI data. Keeping in touch with family is a major reason baby boomer men use social media, he adds, and “these close personal networks help make word-of-mouth recommendations especially influential”.
For die-hard menswear fans like Wooster, there’s plenty of new platforms, too, where older menswear consumers can connect with like-minded people. “There are menswear people who, because of Substack and Instagram, have been able to find each other and geek out on shoe making or bespoke tailoring,” Wooster says. “Reddit has something to do with it, too. I don’t participate in Reddit, but I know that it exists. These communities continue to form — before, it was Twitter or Tumblr.”
Whether it’s on or offline, the silver economy should be a priority for luxury menswear today. “This is a demographic that has time, disposable income, and a clear sense of identity,” Bezamat says. “Three incredibly powerful ingredients in building long-term brand relationships.”
